 Jet Pack Pilot Eric Scott has made a world record attempt at "Top Speed by a Jet Pack". On May 10, 2009 at Knockhill Racing Circuit in Scotland, Scott was clocked by police radar at 68mph which is indeed a new world record. Officials from Guinness have yet to decide if the feat is worthy of inclusion. Nevertheless, it is quite amazing. Who would have thought while watching James Bond in "Thunderball" in the '60s, that one day this would actually be possible. Watch video of the Speed Record HERE.
Scott's Jet Pack is powered by pure Hydrogen Peroxide which is passed over a catalyst of Silver and the decomposition reaction that takes place is instantaneous. The mixture of superheated steam and water increases in volume by 5000 times and creates a propellant that is in excess of 740 degrees C. The propellant is then forced through directional nozzles controlled by Scott via hand controls. Although the peroxide based propellant is quite stable, which reduces the risk of explosion, it has a low exhaust velocity, which gives it a poor specific impulse (that's fuel mileage in "rocket speak"). Currently the weight of propellant the pilot is capable of carrying on his back before the flight, limits the flight duration to about 30 sec. The high cost of the propellant presently makes this unpractical for the "average Joe" but more importantly the pilot is forced to operate below minimum parachute altitude, so there is no safety equipment available to protect the operator in case of emergency. Only those with very large attachments need apply !
In addition to this flight, Eric Scott is also famous for a Jet Pack flight over the Royal George Canyon in Colorado, you can view this flight as well right HERE.
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Today in Aviation History :
July 30, 1935... Lieutenant Frank Akers of the U.S. Navy becomes the first person to make a "blind" landing at sea. His biplane has a hooded cockpit allowing him to see only his controls and instruments. He lands on the USS Langley.
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Free paper planes for the kids
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Aviation Weather Links
www.nws.noaa.gov/
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www.usairnet.com/weather/
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